Car parking charges have doubled in some parts of Shropshire in the last six years, it has been revealed.

Nationally, motorists have seen a 25 per cent rise in the cost of parking, according to figures from insurance firm Direct Line.

But in Shropshire drivers have seen much bigger rises, with charges doubling in some Bridgnorth car parks, rising by a third in parts of south Shropshire and by 50 per cent in some areas of Shrewsbury.

Direct Line motor insurance spokeswoman Emma Holyer said: “Parking is a bone of contention for most drivers in the UK and our rese-arch shows that, because of rocketing costs and limited spaces, drivers are literally forced to wittingly break the law – and consequently be hit with fines.”

South Shropshire District Council under took a review of all off-street parking charges last year, which saw the first increase in the district for five years.

It took the cost of a pay and display ticket to 40p an hour for a short-stay space in many of the district’s car parks – a rise of 10p.

However, in some of the district’s long-stay car parks charges fell to about 6p per hour. Night time fees in Shrewsbury town centre car parks rose by a massive 50 per cent this year, from £1 to £1.50.

There has also been a rise of 20p for parking for less than one hour in the Bridge Street/Barker Street, St Austin Street, Frankwell, Abbey Foregate, Tannery and multi-storey car parks.

Meanwhile, in Bridgnorth some parking charges have doubled in the last six years, with charges rising from 60p for all day to £1.20 in some car parks. Many of the hourly rates have also increased.

In north Shropshire, parking charges only came into force about two years ago, and then only as a pilot scheme in two areas of Market Drayton and one at Prees Heath.

The rest of the district has free parking.

Laura Taylor, spokeswoman for Telford & Wrekin Council, said there had been no rise in charges at the council-owned car parks in Ironbridge and Telford Town Centre since 2004, but data for prior to that was not available.

Nationally some charges, including those in Hertfordshire and Kent, have risen by about 90 per cent since 2000.

Londoners fork out the most to park, with Westminster having the highest charges – £7.99 for two hours.

By Sally Jones